IEF is a nonsectarian, not for profit educational organization founded in 1990 to advocate character education, service learning, family education and prevention education in all parts of the world.

To that end, IEF's objectives are:

• To explore perspectives on universal values that seek to integrate the best of Eastern and Western, spiritual and material as well as traditional and contemporary values.
  
  
• To develop a heart-centered approach to character development and a love-centered view of morality and ethics.
  
  
• To support the work of educators, parents, community leaders and others involved with helping youth and families to enhance the cooperation of the home, school and community in the pursuit of child, adolescent and adult character development.
  
  
• To develop materials and produce books that promote character education and service learning in general, target specific youth issues such as sexuality education, drug abuse prevention and conflict resolution, and that empower families through marriage and parenting education.

The IEF was founded in 1990 by Dr. and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon. Its purpose is to promote moral and ethical education throughout the world as a foundation for world peace.

This purpose is fulfilled through academic research and presentations, practical activities, and publications. IEF has developed an approach to education rooted in universal values, integrating Eastern and Western philosophies, traditional and contemporary values, and spiritual and material values.

The Foundation focuses its efforts in three main areas; education of heart and character, marriage and family education, and pure love education for young people, Ongoing research is conducted throughout the world, published in books and articles, and offered in multimedia presentations, in several languages.

Through the cooperation of home, school and community, IEF seeks to guide individuals and families in creating a culture of love and goodness, in order to realize the ideal of peace and harmony in the era of the global village.